The Jahangirnagar University administration has taken a significant step towards restoring student democracy to the university by forming an election commission to conduct the long-awaited elections to the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union.
The authorities made the announcement through an office order on Tuesday, marking a pivotal moment for the university which had not held the JUCSU elections for several decades.
The election commission will be headed by Md Moniruzzaman, a professor of the university’s English department.
The other four members of the election commission are dean of biological faculty professor Mafruhi Satter, provost of Shaheed Tazuddin Ahmed hall professor Kho Lutful Elahi, provost of Begum Sufia Kamal hall Rezwana Karim.
JU proctor AKM Rashidul Alam will conduct the electoral process as the member secretary of the commission, according to the notice.
The university authorities expressed their commitment to ensuring free, fair, and inclusive elections.
JU vice-chancellor professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan said that the elected body of the JUCSU would provide a platform to students to voice their opinions and actively participate in the decision-making process.
The decision to form the commission came in response to growing demands from students and various campus organisations for the revival of the students’ union.
‘The revival of JUCSU will empower students to address issues affecting their academic and social environment,’ said convener of JU chapter of the Student Movement Against Discrimination Arifuzzaman Uzzal.
The university senate is comprised of 93 members, with five members from the JUCSU body.
JUCSU elections have been held only nine times since the university’s inception in 1971 and the platform has been inactive for almost 33 years. The last election was held in 1992.
